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Edinburg, Texas – The New Mexico State baseball team defeated Texas-Pan American, Sunday afternoon, 3-2. The victory also gave the Aggies the series, 2-1. NM State is now 10-13 overall and 2-1 in WAC play.

“We had been dealing with the wind all weekend and finally we got a break in the seventh with a singles and a walk, putting runners on the bases,” head coach Rocky Ward said. “Wagner then had a great hit into the wind and an error by right fielder helped us break it open. We had other chances to score in the eighth and ninth but just couldn’t get it going.”

The Aggies were led by Michael Paulson and Joseph Koerper who each recording two hits. Derek Umphres, Kristoffer Koerper and Ryan Wagner crossed the plate for the Aggies during the game, as the Aggies recorded one RBI in the game, by Jory Goldstrom.

“I’m very happy with the win today and happy that we took two out of three in the series,” Ward said. “We needed to start conference off strong and we did that this weekend.”

Riley Barr earned the win for the Aggies, pitching three and a third innings, allowing no runs, no hits and striking out one batter. Barr moves to 3-0 on the season, rehiring all 10 batters he faced on the day. Robert Kraft, who got the start for the Aggies, pitched five and two-thirds innings, giving up two runs on seven hits, while striking out seven batters.

The Broncs took an early 1-0 lead after the first inning and extended their lead to 2-0 after the sixth inning, before the Aggies could get on the board. Till that point in the game, the Aggies were out-hit by the Broncs, 7-3.

Then in the top of the seventh, the Aggies stormed back, scoring three runs on just one hit. Umphres started the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a single by Kristoffer Koerper through the right side. Wagner then reached on an error by the right fielder, scoring Umphres from second and pushing K. Koerper to second. Joseph Koerper then walked to load the bases for NM State. Jory Goldstrom reached on a fielder’s choice, scoring K. Koerper from third, advancing Wagner to third from second, while J. Koerper was out at second. Wagner then scored on a wild pitch by the Broncs, pushing the score to 3-2 in favor of the Aggies.

Over the next two and half innings of play, neither team would score, as NM State won the game 3-2.

The Aggies will face I-25 rival New Mexico on Tuesday, March 25, followed by a weekend series with Sacramento State, beginning on March 28th.